Incendiary bullet



3 194$ w. R. BLUEHDORN ETAL 2,323,393

INCENDIARY BULLET Filed June 27, 19 .1

William R Emluehdurn enema m, s, 1943 arrests v or is mcannmar ammn. Blaehdorn, Hartford, (loam, and.

1- Nelson, Black River Falls, Wis.

Application in. 21, 1941, Serial No. 400,041

scum. 101, 102-80) (Granundettheaotof3, 1883,

The invention described herein may be menus factured and used byor for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to incendiary bullets.

In the employment of incendiary bullets it has sometimes occurred that the bullet would be fired into material where a deficiency of oxygen allowed the incendiary material to be smothered before it had done its effective work. 1

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an incendiary bullet which carries a suiiicient amount of oxygen to insure complete and effective combustion.

It is a further objectof this inventionltoprovide an incendiary bullet of simple construction which will be highly efiective under all conditions.

The specific-nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figures land 2 are longitudinal cross sections showing two modifications of our invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, Figure 1 shows an incendiary bullet with a point section I having a chamber 2 open atits rear end formed therein. A groove 3 and a rearwardly facing shoulder 4 are formed on the exterior of the point section to cooperate with the jacket 5 as will hereinafter appear. Fitted in the chamber 2, and extending slightly to' the rear thereof, is a bulb 6 of readily shatterable material having compressed oxygen or oxygen-producing material, I contained therein. A cup-shaped jacket 5 of gliding metal or the like, has its base portion filled with finely divided metallic titanium 8 or other and highly combustible material. Flash passages 9 in the walls ofthe jacket are sealed with plugs of an alloy having a low fusion temperature. A plug it ofthis alloy seals the jacket in front of the incendiary charge, and the jacket is fitted over the reduced rear end of the point section. A recess II in the plug [0 is provided to accommodate the rear end of the oxy en bulb. The forward endof the jacket is seated against the shoulder 4 and the jacket may be crimped into the groove 3 to secure the point April 30, 1928; 870 O. (3.751)

pellent charge and by friction in the passage of the bullet through the bore and the air will be suillcient to cause fusion of the alloy forming the sealing plugs and the material will be thrown out by centrifugal force. .Upon impact the bulb containing the compressed oxygen will be shattered and the oxygen released. vTh projectile which has been heated in firing and flight will be further heated on impact to the ignition temperature of the incendiary charge which burns The exwill take place and be imparted to the surrounding medium regardless of the absence of oxygen in the medium entered. For example if the projectile should be ignited on striking a gasoline tank or the like the combustion might, in the absence of a self-contained oxygen supply, be extinguished in the interior of the tank before its purpose has been accomplished.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 2 the jacket I2 is provided in its front portion with an axial threaded opening l3 in which an ogival nose portion l4 may be engaged. A plurality of flash passages l5 are formed in the wall of the jacket communicating with the interior thereof. The flash passages are closed by a low fusible alloy and a disk It of the same material fills the end of the jacket. Seated against the fusible alloy disk-is a bulb 6.of 'shatterable material having compressed oxygen 1 therein. Surrounding the oxygen bulb 6 is a charge 8 of metallic titanium-or other and highly combustible material. A plug I1. closes the base of: the jacket and the rim l8, of the jacket'is crimped thereover to complete the seal.

This modification functions as does that in. Figure 1 in that the fusible alloy melts and is disposed of in flight. Upon impact theoxygen is released and the incendiary charge bursts into violent combustion imparting the flame to the surrounding medium. The disks I6 and I0 provide a cushioning effect for-the capsule 6 to guard against shocks of ordinary; handling.

Weclaim: l1

1. An incendiary projectile comprising an ogival point member having a: chamber therein section to the jacket. Alternatively the jacket may be crimped to the point section and the plug communicating, with the rearendof said point member, a shatterable bulb in said chamber, compressed oxygen in said bulb, acup-shaped jacket having its open end secured to the 'rearportion of said point member, an incendiary charge in'the base ofsaid jacket and spaced from said point member, flash'passages in said jacketqand a low fusible alloy sealing said flash passages andoccw pying the. space between the incendiary charge and the point member.

2. An incendiarybullet comprising a having means forming an axial chamber therein,"

said chamber terminating short oi the i'orw'ard end of the body, an ozival nose portion secured to said forward end of the body, means forming passages in said body communicating withsaid chamber near the forward end, a low iusible alloy in the forward end of said chambereand'sealin: said passages, a bulb of shatterable material in said chamber adjacent said alloy. compressed 'olylen in said bulb, an incendiary charge in said 2 I a,aaa,aoa v chamber partially surroundingsaid bulb, and

means closing the rear end of said body.

3. an proiectiiecompxising an oaival point member having achamber therein communicating with the rear end of said point member, a shatter-able bulb-in said chamber, compressed saseous oxidizing material in said bulb. a hollow rear member attached to said point member and incendiary material in said rear WILLIAM R. BLUEHDORN. RICHARD N. NELSON.

' member. 

